December 26 / 13.20 Kempton

13.20

Soft

Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 225-12 D BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Few were better than him in staying hurdles but he wasn't totally foot-perfect when beating two rivals on his chase debut at Exeter and again he didn't look a complete natural when brushed aside by McFabulous at Newbury; however, it's still early days in this discipline and the engine is there should he be less sketchy in the first-time cheekpieces; handles all ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

4th Nov 2023

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

14:25 Wetherby

Thyme Hill

11st 2lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Two-time Grade 1 hurdle winner who won the Grade 1 novice chase at Kempton (3m, soft) last December; below par on his two starts in the spring but a slow gallop was against him when a close fourth of five back over hurdles in a Grade 2 at Sandown (2m5f, soft) when last seen; reappearance record provides optimism he'll be close to his peak; if so he has strong claims.

7/4

4th

5

29th Apr 2023

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

16:00 Sandown

Thyme Hill

11st 4lb

J: Tom O’Brien

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

High-class staying hurdler who took well to fences towards end of last year, notably when winning Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton (3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) on Boxing Day; disappointed at Cheltenham last month (reportedly lost his jumping confidence) but has very good chance at the weights on today's return to hurdling and is versatile regarding ground.

5/2

8th

10

15th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 0f 80y

Class 1

14:10 Cheltenham

Thyme Hill

11st 7lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

High-class staying hurdler whose belated switch to fences kicked up a gear in first-time cheekpieces last time when landing Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day (3m, soft); plenty of his rivals fluffed their lines that day and he needs to back up the performance jumping-wise (has been hesitant on occasions) but his ability cannot be doubted.

8/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 31-P11 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Inferior hurdler to Thyme Hill - albeit very smart in his own right - but the early signs are that he'll be the better chaser after making light work of the Hobbs horse in a 2m7f Grade 2 at Newbury (good), which came on the heels of a faultless display at Exeter; sound jumping has been a feature in his performances so far and he's sure to take a lot of beating; also effective on soft/good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Apr 2023

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:50 Sandown

McFabulous

11st 5lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

Quality bumper/hurdle performer who has won two of his five runs over fences (including a Grade 2) and had excuses for his three defeats (lost action/finished lame/irregular heartbeat); comes with an element of risk but his trainer can be trusted to have him spot on for this seasonal finale; very effective on good but career-high RPR was achieved on soft.

10/1

1

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

13:15 Newbury

McFabulous

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

High-class bumper/hurdle winner who has taken well to fences, easily beating the odds-on Thyme Hill over C&D (good) in November; safely held in second by the same rival in Grade 1 novice at Kempton on Boxing Day, finishing lame after running well for a long way; under optimum conditions today he's the one to beat provided he's fully recovered from that last run.

4/9

2nd

2

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Kempton

McFabulous

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Inferior hurdler to Thyme Hill - albeit very smart in his own right - but the early signs are that he'll be the better chaser after making light work of the Hobbs horse in a 2m7f Grade 2 at Newbury (good), which came on the heels of a faultless display at Exeter; sound jumping has been a feature in his performances so far and he's sure to take a lot of beating; also effective on soft/good to soft.

13/8

Form: 112223

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
More exposed over fences than a typical winner of this race and he would appear to lack the required class, having performed no better than he was entitled to when behind McFabulous and Thyme Hill at Newbury; relying on both of those being below par if he's to strike any sort of blow today; can cope with soft ground but seems best on good or faster.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 3

14:15 Catterick

Mortlach

11st 10lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Strike-rate of 5-12 over fences and was highly tried before making the most of a good opportunity at Newbury (2m handicap on good to firm); this looks another good piece of placing even with his penalties.

11/10

1st

1

19th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 0f 92y

Class 2

14:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 9lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

pressed leader, not fluent 1st, briefly led before 4th, pushed along approaching last, led narrowly after 9th, ridden run-in, went clear final 110yds, kept on well

6/4

5

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

15:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Tough and consistent novice chaser; not disgraced behind a very useful rival in match race at Plumpton (2m3f) most recently, though proved no match for the winner; has bits of Grade 2 form but this is a harder task; bottom of this field on ratings.

50/1

Form: 411-11 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
The stable second string today by all accounts but he was a Grade 1 winner at this trip over hurdles last season and he's gone 2-2 over fences; will need to smarten up his jumping in this company but the potential is there; dangerous to dismiss; good to soft and soft is fine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:15 Ayr

Gelino Bello

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Promising start to chasing career in late 2022, and returned from long absence with fair sixth over hurdles this winter; yard won this last year and he has his sights lowered after tackling the Kim Muir last month, but he's now been pulled up over fences the last twice and has something to prove.

16/1

1

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:15 Ayr

Gelino Bello

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Promising start to chasing career in late 2022, and returned from long absence with fair sixth over hurdles this winter; yard won this last year and he has his sights lowered after tackling the Kim Muir last month, but he's now been pulled up over fences the last twice and has something to prove.

16/1

5

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Gelino Bello

11st 8lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Grade 1 novice hurdle winner in April 2022 and well treated on novice chase form from late 2022; returned from long absence with fair sixth over hurdles in December; heavy ground may have been too much over fences at Sandown last month but he was pulled up and others have less to prove.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 133-1

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Inferior hurdler to three of today's rivals but she still ran to a respectable level and, as a winning 3m pointer, it was no surprise to see her make a winning start over fences in a Listed chase for mares at Bangor (2m1f, heavy; form franked); that trip would have been plenty short enough and yet, with her jumping assured throughout, she strolled home from a subsequent winner; entitled to significant respect with no ground issues and armed with her mares' allowance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 2f 19y

Class 3

15:12 Carlisle

Galia Des Liteaux

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Grade 2-winning chaser who ran well to be eighth in the 2024 Grand National; last season ended disappointingly (latterly in the Midlands National when tongue-tie joined regular cheekpieces) but she was second in the 2m4f Listed race on this card before respectable efforts in the Coral Gold Cup and Welsh National (won by Val Dancer); stays this far and the handicapper has given her a chance; interesting.

8/1

5th

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 2f 19y

Class 3

15:12 Carlisle

Galia Des Liteaux

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Grade 2-winning chaser who ran well to be eighth in the 2024 Grand National; last season ended disappointingly (latterly in the Midlands National when tongue-tie joined regular cheekpieces) but she was second in the 2m4f Listed race on this card before respectable efforts in the Coral Gold Cup and Welsh National (won by Val Dancer); stays this far and the handicapper has given her a chance; interesting.

8/1

5th

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 2f 19y

Class 3

15:12 Carlisle

Galia Des Liteaux

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Grade 2-winning chaser who ran well to be eighth in the 2024 Grand National; last season ended disappointingly (latterly in the Midlands National when tongue-tie joined regular cheekpieces) but she was second in the 2m4f Listed race on this card before respectable efforts in the Coral Gold Cup and Welsh National (won by Val Dancer); stays this far and the handicapper has given her a chance; interesting.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.10
Straight Forecast £16.23
Trifecta £183.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Galia Des Liteaux

RP Ratings:

McFabulous

TOPSPEED:

Gelino Bello

The Star:

Thyme Hill

POSTDATA:

Galia Des Liteaux

The Times:

Galia Des Liteaux

Telegraph:

Galia Des Liteaux

The Guardian:

Galia Des Liteaux

Daily Mail:

Gelino Bello

D Express:

Gelino Bello

WEST COUNTRY:

McFabulous

Daily Mirror:

McFabulous

The Sun:

McFabulous

Daily Record:

McFabulous